MILAN – Featuring a standout three-point (2g, 1a) effort from team captain Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz./Toronto Maple Leafs), the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team triumphed over Germany, 5-1, in their final preliminary round match of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Arena.
With this win, Team USA secures the top position in Group C and advances directly to the quarterfinals. The U.S. will face the victor of the playoff contest between Sweden and Latvia on Wednesday (Feb. 18) at 9:10 p.m. CET (3:10 p.m. ET) at Milano Santagiulia Arena. The match will be broadcast live on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock.
“I believed it was our most comprehensive performance of the tournament,” stated Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “This was undoubtedly a significant victory for us, and we will take tomorrow off to recuperate and prepare for our quarterfinal matchup.”
Jake Guentzel (Woodbury, Minn./Tampa Bay Lightning) nearly opened the scoring at 9:09 of the first period, but his opportunity from the slot was thwarted by German goaltender Maximilian Franzreb.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich./Winnipeg Jets) made an impressive glove save with 3:11 remaining, as he blocked a shot from the left faceoff circle to maintain the score at zero.
GAME PHOTOS
Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets) broke the deadlock with just nine seconds left, firing a wrist shot past the blocker of Franzreb after receiving a pass from Matthews.
Matthews extended Team USA’s lead at 3:25 of the second period on the power play, as a shot from Quinn Hughes (Canton, Mich./Minnesota Wild) created a rebound opportunity in the crease, which Matthews capitalized on.
Brock Faber (Maple Grove, Minn./Minnesota Wild) found the net at 17:35, shooting a wrist shot from the point that deflected off Franzreb’s glove into the goal.
The U.S. added a fourth goal at 1:55 of the third period, as Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn./Buffalo Sabres) unleashed a one-timer from the top of the circles following a pass from Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Red Wings).
Matthews scored his second of the evening to increase the U.S. lead to 5-0 at 16:46, redirecting a shot from Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont./Ottawa Senators) from close range.
Tim Stutzle narrowed the U.S. lead to four with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle at 11:22.
Hellebuyck concluded the game with 23 saves, solidifying the U.S. victory in goal.
NOTES: Team USA outshot Germany, 37-24… The U.S. converted 1-2 on the power play, while Germany went 0-3.
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